Both Stern and Billy Hunter sounded upbeat when they emerged to give their spin to the media.

Maybe it’s the late hour. But how come this seems to be a completely different attitude emerging than after cataclysmic gloom and doom that marked the end of last week’s abrupt conclusion?

Despite the happy spin both sides have, huge work needs to be made when they meet again beginnning at 2 p.m. Thursday.

One source told CBS Sports.com that “small moves” have been made. But the same gap exists with the split of the basketball-related income remains and appears to still be the same impediment to a deal as before.